Bands
Here are the musical configurations I most often perform with these days:
Papa Lebas & Gumbo Ya Ya
This mystickal band is a New Orleans-inspired earthy gumbo of funk, R&B, jazz, blues, zydeco, Cajun, brass band, and more. Launched from the 2-year process of recording the album Naptown to NOLA, Papa Lebas & Gumbo Ya Ya exists to affirm community, celebrate life, and provide a majickal connection to the musickal thread that runs through the universe. Carrying forward the expansive mujickal mantle of Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, The Meters, the Neville Brothers, and other Culture Bearers from the Bayous, the band plays a mix of Crescent City classics and instantly familiar originals.
Papa Presents (formerly Jeff Muller & Friends)
This is an ever-evolving group of musical collaborators who join Jeff for special performances covering a variety of themes and musical genres, some being one-time performances and others being recurring acts. The series has included: Fess & His Sons (the New Orleans R&B piano music of Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Dr John, and James Booker), Rhythm, Blues & the Roots of Rock ‘n’ Roll (the music that eventually became rock ‘n’ roll, from 1922-1954), Sly Revisited (the first decade of funk), Zambezi: A Celebration of Friends (good time music), Soul Sirens (the great female soul pioneers), Music of Resistance, Songs of Hope (protest and movement music that makes you want to move), Blues Women (the great female blues pioneers), The New Orleans-Caribbean Connection (celebrating New Orleans as the "northernmost port in the Caribbean), Canciones de las Americas (the diverse music of Latin America), Stax & The Soul Revolution (the Memphis soul classics), Traveling Traditions (the roots of American folk music), The Many Sides of Mardi Gras (exploring the Mardi Gras traditions from Acadiana to New Orleans), and Groovy Country & The Witty Wordsmith (the life and music of Roger Miller). These shows feature some of the finest performers in the DMV, including: Daryl Davis (piano and vocals), Seth Kibel (woodwinds), Meg Murray (vocals), Doug Woolverton (trumpet), Noah Pierre (guitar & vocals), Michael McHenry (guitar & vocals), Rahsaan ‘Wordslave’ Eldridge (vocals & percussion), Matt Tebo (drums), Nate Stanley (guitar), Tommy Lepson (vocals & keyboards), Matt Kelley (guitar & vocals), Rachel Reid (vocals), Phil Bucci (drums), Michelle Heaton (vocals), Lakin Ducker (woodwinds & vocals), Bryan Lee (guitar, bass & vocals), Gillian Thompson (vocals), Bill Starks (piano), Dave Chappell (guitar), Dan Leonard (guitar), Shari Puorto (vocals), Burnsie (vocals), Leslie Webber (vocals), Alan MacEwen (vocals, guitar & trumpet), Chris Watling (saxophone), Moe Nelson (upright bass & vocals), Antoine Sanfuentes (drums), Tom Bodor (guitar), Natalia Zerga (vocals), Jorge Anaya (guitar & vocals), Jon Modell (drums), Anita King (vocals), Graham Furniss (bass), Amadou Kouyate (kora & djembe), Gary Wright (guitar & vocals), Leah Weiss (fiddle, guitar, bass & vocals), Jimmy Jacobs (piano & accordion), Tom Fridrich (drums, percussion & vocals), Nick Ruggieri (drums), and Jeff (bass, guitar, banjo & vocals).
The Roustabouts
Billed as a fiddle-blues band, we're really so much more than that, bringing in aspects of blues, rock, R&B, soul, funk, country, and jam band. The band was founded in 2004 at the legendary Zoo Bar and has been a staple of the DC scene ever since. Playing a good-time mix of original music and carefully selected covers, the band performs at bars, clubs, and festivals--anyplace where people are serious about getting down to good music. The current line-up is: Andrew Wiley (lead vocals), Pete Daniels (fiddle and vocals), Dan Shine (guitar and vocals), Jeff (bass and vocals), and Phil Bucci (drums and vocals).
The Cyphers Band
Former Blue Miracle front man Steve Cyphers, noted for his dynamic stage presence, has created his own super group of DMV musicians that makes musical magic when you mix them all together, playing a jam band-based mix of originals and tunes by everyone from Santana and The Meters to The Greyboy All Stars and Jimi Hendrix. Launched in 2024, the band is quickly making a name for itself as it draws crowds and makes them want to dance. The current line-up includes: Steve (lead vocals and percussion), Meg Murray (back-up vocals), Sean “Dracula” Jackson (guitar and vocals), Bryan Lee (guitar and vocals), John Merritt (keyboards and trumpet), Jeff (bass), and Matt Tebo (drums and vocals).
Wellvis
Wellvis is the latest project frpm Karl Straub, who has been called DC's best songwriter by the Washington Post. Karl has been a fixture on the DC music scene since the 90s when his band The Graverobbers developed a rabid following at rooms like the 9:30 Club and Iota. This band, which plays a self-described psychedelic glambilly, is fronted by Matt Hahn (frontman for the Young Caucasions) and also features Erica Antonelli (accordion and vocals), Jeff (bass), and either Nick Ruggieri or Larry Ferguson (drums). The band performs a mix of original music and carefully chosen covers by icons such as T-Rex and Evan Johns & The H Bombs.
Songbird Collective
The collective is designed to support women and non-binary artists. Jeff backs up a number of the artists, primarily Meg Murray (queen of the Annapolis music scene), Laura Brino (award-winning indie folk-pop singer-songwriter), and Leslie Webber (longtime Jello Boys frontwoman and Annapolis icon). He has also supported Carly Winter (next gen singer-songwriter with a heart of gold), Natalia Carrasco Coa (Peruvian chanteuse who sings everything from Latin classics to pop gems), Davonne D'Neil (soul and R&B diva of the highest order), Heather Britt (banjo-wielding singer-songwriter with a unique perspective), Burnsie (emotive singer-songwriter with a voice of golden silk), Angie Miller (Baltimore-based local legend), Michelle Heaton (soul singing powerhouse and frontwoman for MacHeat), and Jill Davolio (dynamic frontwoman for Local Souls).
Mary Battiata & Little Pink
Mary Battiata & Little Pink is the ongoing alt-country, Country, Americana, twang-folk-pop project of singer-songwriter Mary Battiata, one of the DMV's finest Americana songwriters and performers. Performing a mix of Mary's critically lauded originals and carefully chosen Country and Americana covers, the band delights fans and fills dance floors. The current line-up is: Mary (lead vocals and guitar), Rich Faridun (guitar and vocals), Dave Hadley (pedal steel), Jeff (bass), and Larry Ferguson (drums).
The Bossa Brothers
Led by Baltimore keyboard mainstay Jim Orr, this band performs a mix of Brazilian, Latin jazz, and other Afro-Caribbean styles--primarily for private engagements. In addition to bossa classics and well-penned originals, the band also does clever, unexpected versions of a number of pop hits by songwriters including Van Morrison, Michael Jackson, and The Beatles. And although the core material is instrumental, it can also add in vocals as needed. The current core line-up (which can be larger when needed) is: Jim (keyboards and vocals), Jeff (bass and vocals), and Matt Tebo (drums).
Gary Wright & Leah Weiss
Annapolis performers Gary and Leah play American roots music that draws from the traditions of Appalachian old-time and country music, blending originals, reinvented and traditional songs and tunes, and innovative contemporary covers. Driving fiddle, solid guitar lines, and tight harmony singing are trademarks of their sound. They also veer into other roots-oriented musical territories, including New Orleans R&B, Cajun, trad jazz, African, and the music of classic 60s and 70s rock acts such as Bob Dylan, The Band, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Townes Van Zandt, and more. These days the band often comprises: Gary (guitar, banjo and vocals), Leah (fiddle, guitar, bass and vocals), Jimmy Jacobs (piano and accordion), Jeff (bass, guitar and vocals), and Tom Fridrich (drums, mandolin and vocals).